After falling off the radar for nine months, Garmin is finally ready to launch the Nuvifone G60, which combines a GPS with a cell phone.
AT&T will be the service provider for the Nuvifone G60, dubbed "the Duke Nukem of phones" by Engadget for its apparent disappearance from reality. By many standards it's a no-frills phone, with no app support and no operating system of repute.
What really sets the Nuvifone G60 apart, though, is the way navigation services are integrated into the phone. Garmin navigation integrates fully into your e-mails, text messages and contact lists. That means any address sent to you by text or e-mail can be turned into a navigation point with a tap of the finger.
Users can also geo-tag photos, find their cars based on when they removed the phone from the included car mount and locate the nearest intersection, hospital, police station and highway. The phone also includes a Web browser.
Unlike the navigation services offered on a more comprehensive smartphone, such as the iPhone, navigation on the Nuvifone G60 is free with AT&T's $30 data plan and the calling plan of your choice. The phone itself, however, is a bit pricey at $300, and only after a $100 mail-in rebate.
We're seeing Garmin introduce products that go beyond the basic functionality of a GPS device. Earlier this month, the company unveiled the $500 Nüvi 1690, which provides users with local information along with navigation. The Nuvifone G60 offers those services for an additional $6 per month.
I like all these developments, but I'd rather see them integrated into a smartphone that supports apps and feels a bit less like a GPS device. Then again, I've always preferred familiarizing myself with a city over punching in an address every time I step into my car. For those who are a little more navigation-challenged, the Nuvifone G60 could be just the ticket.
